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Distinguished Alumna: Teacher Advocates for Special Needs Children Nationwide

Distinguished Alumna Michelle Felis Accardi BA '87, director of state policy and advocacy
for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, first felt the call to
educate children, especially those with disabilities, while practicing law as a private
sector attorney. Her dedication and leadership as an elementary school teacher of
children with special needs was quickly recognized and put to work on a national level.

Currently, Accardi works in Washington, D.C., with policymakers, advocates and educators
across the country to develop education policy that promotes effective teaching and
student achievement. She will be awarded one of UD's Distinguished Alumni Awards at
a dinner in their honor on Saturday, Oct. 5.

As one of 102,000 teachers (three percent of teachers nationwide) to attain the highest
level of teaching certificationa national board certified teacherAccardi is uniquely
qualified to advocate for special needs children.

"Her dedication to the profession of education and her desire to increase awareness
for students with special needs is what sets Michelle apart from other educators,"
said Lisa Oliphant, Albuquerque Public Schools special education instructional manager.

Despite a hefty list of impressive career accomplishments, Accardi has made a habit
of finding time to volunteer, working pro-bono for a children's charity in Albuquerque
while practicing law, teaching Catechism classes at her parish and always being available
or fellow teachers.

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Its connection to UD helps the alumnus-owned Lamberti's fulfill its three pillars: local, tradition and famiglia. Lamberti's was the vendor for this year's Groundhog "Party in the Park" celebration; additionally, Lamberti's is looking into carrying Due Santi Rosso wine from UD's own vineyard on the Eugene Constantin Campus.

The University of Dallas community gathered on Friday, Feb. 2, 2018, for the formal blessing and opening of Cardinal Farrell Hall, named after our former bishop of Dallas, previous chancellor and longtime friend of the university, Kevin Cardinal Farrell. The opening of the new student-focused building marks the completion of one of several capital projects, a part of a broader institutional effort to transform the university's Irving campus.

The Beatrice M. Haggerty Gallery proudly announces the opening of a two-person exhibition, "What Remains," featuring artists Rachel Meginnes and Assistant Professor of Ceramics Kelly O'Briant. The exhibition is curated by Penland Gallery Director Kathryn Gremley of the Penland School of Craft in North Carolina. In 2001, O'Briant received a two-year Core Fellowship from the Penland School of Craft, where Meginnes recently completed a three-year residency.

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